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Summary (English)

Summary (English)

The primary goal of the 2014 season was to concentrate research on the early history of the site. We revisited several areas of the site where we had excavated previously. The research design behind re-opening PC 27 and 28 focused on the need to study the architecture and shed light on the early phases of the site. Excavations further defined a foundation wall that belongs to the first monumental phase of architecture at the site. Running almost due north-south, it contains well-quarried ashlar blocks. There is a possibility that these blocks constitute one section of the early temple wall, however, further excavation will be required in order to test this theory.

Trench PC 21 is on the southeastern side of the Poggio Colla hilltop was originally excavated in 2000. This 7.5m x 2.5m trench soon found bedrock some 30 cm below the surface. Although not deep, the earlier excavation did find various features cut into the natural bedrock. These were interpreted as post holes, forming part of a wooden structure, perhaps an elliptical hut with a large central post hole and, to the east, four smaller holes forming an arc – perhaps the wall of a hut. The goal of re-opening and expansion of this area in 2014 was to test the hypothesis that this area was indeed the site of an early hut.

The results of the 2014 campaign are suggestive but not conclusive. A total of 9 features seem to be post holes—all carved out of bedrock. The arc shape continued into the extension of PC 21 to the north and does bear similarity in shape to an early hut. The results are not conclusive because of a lack of datable material culture associated with the structure. Although and Orientalizing bucchero fragment was discovered in 2000, the 2014 campaign found no evidence that would secure such an early date. Excavation continued in 2014 to further elucidate the nature of the activities associated with this altar. Complicating the analysis of this area is the shallow stratigraphy and the apparent erosion at this south end of the site, which may have erased much of the material culture associated with any early phases.

For the third time, we’ve returned to PC 45, a trench first opened in 2011. The primary goal of the trench from the beginning was to document the depositional history across the courtyard. The highlight of the trench was the discovery in 2011 of a large altar foundation, a continuation of the altar found in PC 23 in 2001. To the north of the altar, excavation uncovered a wall course of unworked stones that connects to a structure previously discovered in PC 23.